JLL, India’s largest real estate consultancy firm, announced the appointment of Lata Pillai as Head of Capital Markets, India effective 15 July 2021. Based in Mumbai, Lata will advise domestic and international clients on investments and financing solutions in real estate. Her appointment further strengthens JLL’s capabilities in one of Asia Pacific’s most active investment geographies and marks a new phase of growth as the market continues to evolve.
Lata will be responsible for leading a diverse team and driving strategy for the India Capital Markets business, which will include supporting growth in cross-regional capital flows and overseeing the asset management and strategic advisory business lines. As global investor interest within the sector continues to rise, she will additionally focus on enhancing the connectivity of the company’s Capital Markets teams with investors in overseas markets.
Institutional investment* in Indian real estate witnessed USD 27 billion of capital flows during 2016-20, which was double the amount received during the 2011-15 period. Investment volumes crossed the USD 5 billion mark in 2020 despite the pandemic, thanks to large portfolio deals during the year. With India increasingly prioritised by global investors, Lata’s appointment will bolster JLL’s service capabilities, fortify its market leadership, and position JLL at the forefront of industry redefining deals.
Radha Dhir, CEO & Country Head, India, JLL, said, “Investors continue to reinforce their confidence in Indian real estate and will increasingly demand local expertise paired with global insights. India remains an attractive destination for global capital and we believe it will continue to evolve and mature at a rapid pace in both core and emerging markets. Lata’s rich experience in real estate and finance paired with a strong network will provide a more diversified offering to our clients, thereby addressing their needs across range of asset classes and geographies.”
“Lata’s appointment also reflects our strategy to provide our clients with a broader range of services and deeper insights into local markets. It underscores our focus on expanding our current investment advisory services amid a competitive investment banking environment. This comes at a time when institutional investors are looking to increase their capital allocations to real estate. I am certain that her local market intelligence along with global investor knowledge will enable us to deliver best-in-class solutions to our clients,” she further added.
Investments into Indian real estate grew by 21% Y-o-Y during the first quarter of 2021, registering volumes of over USD 900 million. Furthermore, with over 285 million sq ft of REIT worthy office assets that could be securitised, with an estimated value of USD 36 billion across the top seven cities, JLL believes more REIT listings will be slated for 2022 and beyond.
“Investment in India’s commercial real estate market has increased more than fivefold in a decade. As markets reawaken, investors will look to take advantage of strong demographics and governmental reforms. Under Lata’s leadership, we’re confident that our India Capital Markets team will thrive and be well placed to unlock opportunity for foreign investors and India owners and developers,” said Stuart Crow, CEO, Capital Markets, Asia Pacific, JLL.
To JLL, Lata brings 30 years of experience in banking and real estate space. Prior to joining JLL, Lata worked at ICICI Bank, where she was instrumental in building its real estate finance desk. At Deutsche Bank, Lata was head of their Commercial Real Estate group. She also brings experience from Edelweiss Financial Services and Yes Bank in senior leadership positions.
